Some More Beautiful Creations!

I'm a sucker for anything in blues and this piece that was designed by Lisa of dancingraindesigns definitely caught my interest. I really can't pinpoint down exactly what I love about it, but I think it is the combination of the variety of beads combining aqua, brown, and bronze which makes the bracelet just sing with color! Add her hand forged copper spirals and Shepherds hook clasp just finish off the piece perfectly! As usual, I am as always floored by the beautiful designs that my buyers create!









Another beautiful creation using a combination of beads including the Mykonos Aegean Tube beads. The one thing I do love about the Tube beads is that you really get to see the wonderful color combination's on this long bead. Jamie of HaiKorInc sent me these pictures of her necklace and I love the combination of beads she chose. And as I have said before, you really have to see these gorgeous designs in person. Pictures just don't do the creations justice! This necklace so full of color and definitely a lovely length to wear with the summer dresses and blouses coming out this Summer. Please check out these two wonderful designers shops. You will be in for a treat!

A Shawl With Pizzaz!

Well, here is another unusual creation that has the Mykonos Greek Ceramic beads included into its design! I am constantly amazed at the wide diversity of ideas that turn into creations. This lovely shawl was created by Inger of ingermaaike. I am a total novice when it comes to knowing what and how Nuno Felting is done. When I received the picture of her shawl I had to do a little investigating into the subject. What an interesting way to create something so beautiful that is light and airy too! I like the idea that you can add additional elements to your design. To me it almost seems like a blank canvas that can be drawn on with whatever adornments you wish to include. Paint a picture! What a neat idea! For more check out Inger's shop on Etsy!

A Wonderful Way to Use Mykonos Greek Ceramic Beads!

I was stunned to see this very unique way of using the Mykonos Greek ceramic beads! When Lizz of pawshdogwear on Artfire contacted me about the beads I was so fascinated to see what she was going to do with the Mykonos beads. I tried visualizing how she would use them, but I never would have come up with this wonderful creation! I had to use the second picture too because in the background she has a Cocker Spaniel that looks like my first Cocker, Lady. As I have said repeatedly, my buyers are a wonderful group of artisans that create some of the most wonderful, unusual creations! Check out Lizz's shop. I think you will love her creations as much as I do, especially if you have a furry creature in your life!

Earthy Collection

Another great design from one of Etsy's wonderful jewelry designers, Rebecca of KneeDeepOriginals! A lovely combination of lampwork beads, gemstones and sterling silver beads. The focal is a carved feldspar leaf; all strung on leather. Another example of the wonderful designs these great designers create using the many different components that are available. Chechk out her store and stay awhile!

Wowza!

I was completely blown away by these designs! When I got the e-mail from Sandra, saying that she had just gotten the beads the night before and here were the designs she had created I was amazed! What would have take me forever took her an evening! She did a wonderful job of incorporating so many different elements into her designs. I'm a sucker for turquoise so I think that is my favorite creation. I know that I am always saying this, but I am humbled by the creativity of my buyers! They never stop amazing me with their designs. Sandra has a shop on Etsy and it is called zsazsazsu1963. I'm going to have to ask her what the meaning is behind her unusual name for her shop.





Does anyone know how to get the pictures to line up next to each other. So frustrating! Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. There is no rhyme or reason to how the pictures behave!!

A Poll

I want to ask my buyers and anyone else out there who has an opinion to please give me some input on this situation:

After you purchase an item online do you expect or want to hear personally from the seller that they have received your order?

I ask because I've been comparing the many different places that I have purchased items from online, from Amazon to Office Depot, and when I compared the different businesses I felt that Amazon was the most similar venue when comparing to Etsy and Artfire. On all of the sites when I purchase, the host site sends you, the buyer, an e-mail confirming your purchase. I have looked back through my purchases and I can't find any additional correspondence from the actual seller concerning the sale. That's to say I haven't heard from them if everything is going smoothly. If they have a problem with my address or there was a problem with the order, then I heard from them. Up to this point I didn't think it was necessary, but I am now curious to see what everyone else thinks.

If this interests you please leave a comment!

A Burst of Color With Peyote Stitch

Oh, my goodness! I do love this bracelet! I have tried Peyote stitch and loved the look, the flow of the design, and that you didn't have to be perfect. Which brings me to this style, the Freeform. I didn't even know that it had a name! My first exposure to this medium was from a book one of my neighbors lent me, Exquisite Beaded Jewelry by Lynda S. Musante. That was my first look at incorporating lampwork beads within the design. But, what really captured my interest was how she had designs that flowed all over the place, stopping and starting new rows that weren't connected. Definitely my cup of tea!

This wonderful bracelet was made by MaryLou who has a shop on Etsy called time2cre8. The bold use of color drew me in for a closer look, and then I found myself meandering around loving the changes in the color and size of the beads. Gorgeous!

I had promised myself that this year I was going to break out of my lampwork fixation and get back to my roots of doing watercolor, prismacolor, or even back to oils. And, I have all of my Scratchboard's just waiting for new designs. I even moved them so I should really use them. And, then I saw this bracelet and it reinvigorated me to pick back up that bracelet I started a couple years ago. Boy, does time fly! So thank you MaryLou for figuratively giving me a kick in the hiney!